Sudan Project

       Some patients are harder to lose than others. Some of them you know may not survive and you prepare yourself, but others seem to be pulling out and then they die. We have had a couple lately that we thought were pulling through only to lose them suddenly. One was a teenage boy who had waited too long to come in for Malaria treatment. The other was a baby who had malaria and most likely meningitis. The baby was improving, but would quit breathing after having a seizure, and we would have to restart his breathing. One night, his mother didn’t notice the seizure, and when she called for us it was too late. The mother did not show any emotion or grieve at all, which made it even harder.

       We now have Aguer, who is three years old and has tetanus. His body is rigid and is easily agitated with touch. His muscles are so tight that he is not able to open his mouth for food, but we were able to get in a feeding tube. He has now started to have seizures regularly, and we are having trouble finding a balance to control the seizures without hindering his breathing. Please be praying for him, as he has a long way to go before his muscles will relax.

       Please also be praying for the time when we are to start vaccinating the general population for these preventable diseases. It would require more staff and finances, and we are currently unable to take on any more.

       I just found out that the organization that promised to provide insulin for Nyingong will not be sending us any more. I was able to aquire a different kind of insulin in Nairobi, but we don't know how she will respond to it. Please be praying for her.

In His Lap,
Cindy

       Since I last wrote so much has happened. We had a team come to Nyinbuli from Vancouver and Shelton Washington to help with the foundation of the clinic. The work was intense, the heat exhausting, and the snakes, scorpions, and spiders many. Despite all of the struggles the team did amazing and worked hard. When the gravel ran out for the foundation and no vehicle was able to be obtained, the team took to pushing wheelbarrows 10 miles a day to get the needed gravel from the river to the clinic site. Within the week after they left, thanks to their hard work with the wheelbarrows, we were able to finish the foundation of the first block of the clinic. We will now wait for the rains to finish before starting on the walls. We are hoping to have teams come starting mid-October, and are praying for the building to be finished by Christmas.

       Just days after the team left, I fell quite ill and have been struggling to recuperate ever since. From the time that I was in Yei (Viola's village), I acquired a rare type of malaria that stays dormant in your blood. When your immunity gets down and you are weak, that is when it comes back. I haven't had malaria in 3 years, but it came back, hitting me hard and at the same time as a bad ear infection. Divinah and Debbie took great care of me, and I am starting to get better. Divinah even had the opportunity of giving her first IV, as I got badly dehydrated and couldn't get enough fluids in me. I am now out in Nairobi for my R&R (returning to Sudan on Friday), where I had a lot of blood work done. It was discovered that I still had malaria. At the first time was a bit severe, I have just finished treatment again. I am now taking another malarial medicine for the next 2 weeks that should remove even the dormant malaria from my blood completely. I still have an infection in both ears and have been put on medication for a month for it. Please pray as I return to Sudan on Friday not at 100%. I know that I am to go back now, though, and that God will give me the strength to push on.

       The rains are heavy this year, and storms are coming as we have never seen them. Cindy shared with me that last week the lightning was so bad that in one night 27 goats, 4 children, 1 man, and 1 woman were all struck by the lightning and killed. With the heavy rains come lots of malaria. Please pray for protection for our team and for the people in Nyinbuli. Pray that the people come in as soon as they are sick, as we have already lost 1 from malaria in the past 24 hours and are in threat of losing another who waited too long before coming in.

       Thank you so much for all your prayers and support. There is no way that I can express how much the Lord has used all of you to serve as encouragements needed to help us all keep pushing on.

Many Blessings to you all!
Charity

       Abuk is doing amazingly well! I am impressed how quickly she is healing and how well she gets around. Thanks so much for all your prayers! We flew back into Nyinbuli on Wednesday and other than the pain from sitting in the airplane all day she is already doing better than before. We have to remind her each day not to be lifting anything heavy. We have had to tell her we won’t allow her to start working til next week and then she will only be doing the lighter tasks. She was relieved when I told her as she isn’t 100% yet but she looks so good everyone expects her to be well.

       My time away went so fast but it was good to get refocused and God has been doing so much in me. On the way in I realized the sacrifice to come here is greater each time I come in yet when I started to feel sorry for myself God quickly asked me How much I loved Him. Nothing like a quick way to get me on the right track and to give up the pity party. As we read Psalm 23 today I saw the verse about walking through the valley of the shadow of death a little differently. The death being all the things not of the Lord in my heart and no matter how hard it is to let go of it He is with me guiding me along the way.

       Please be praying for refreshing and renewal for Charity as she was working so hard she fell quite sick and is in the process of recovering. She is out in Kenya now.

       They did get the slab for the permanent clinic building finished! It is great to see the progress. We hope to start the walls in October so if any of you want to come help let us know.

In His Lap,
Cindy

       Abuk made it through surgery fine and the doctor said surgery went well! She is resting as I type. Please continue to pray for a complete recovery.

       I will be with Abuk until midday Thursday and then a Sudanese lady will stay with her for her remaining days in the hospital. She is expected to be released on Saturday.

       I think she has decided Sudan is much better as she is always freezing here in Kenya.

In His Lap,
Cindy

       As some of you know we decided we needed to bring Abuk (the lady whose husband beat her while she was pregnant back in Nov 06) out to Nairobi for medical treatment. She has continued to struggle with her health since she was beaten and we had done everything we could so last week we decided I would escort Abuk to Nairobi for further treatment. We spent three days going to Doctors until the problem was found. She has a complex mass that is 3.8cm X 4.7cm X 5.6cm on her left ovary. Given her history and our location the decision was made to do a complete hysterectomy. She will be having this done on Wednesday, May 28th. Please pray for her complete recovery and if anyone wants to donate money to help cover the costs please send it to Safe Harbor marked for the Nyinbuli Project and let us know it is for Abuk's surgery. We are figuring the cost of surgery, room and board, and local transportation costs to be between $900- $1000.

       Abuk has done well through the travels and with me as a translator even though she is in a lot of pain. She continues to focus on the Lord and says our God is BIG. She thanks you for your prayers.

       I will make sure she makes it through surgery and the next day turn her care over to a Sudanese woman who lives in Nairobi as I am scheduled to fly out of Nairobi Thursday night to Europe for a retreat and to visit friends.

In His Lap,
Cindy